People with leprosy, but also people with other conditions can feel ashamed and shy because of their disease and might be excluded or discriminated against. However, people's life experiences are not only determined by this health-related stigma but by a multitude of socio-economic factors. This project explores the intersectionality of inclusion in order to find recommendations for stigma reducing interventions.
Intersectionality of inclusion for health-related stigma reduction
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Project summary
People with leprosy, but also people with other conditions can feel ashamed and shy because of their disease and might be excluded or discriminated against. Health-related stigma is an important area of research in the field of global health. A lot of research has been done in field of stigma. Normally researchers tend to focus on gaining insights in health-related stigma and exclusion. While this is valuable, it is also important to gain insights into inclusion. Intersectionality refers to the idea that every person bears multiple social identities associated with race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, health status, etc. which are intricately interconnected with each other and jointly shape life experiences – including experiences of inclusion and exclusion - of the person.
The objective of this project (which is also a PhD study) is to gain insights in the dynamics around inclusion for different stigmatized health conditions (e.g. leprosy, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, mental illness, stigmatized Neglected Tropical Diseases) in different settings in Indonesia and to provide recommendations for generic and specific interventions and future implementation. This is a participatory and qualitative study using research methods such as interviews and focus group discussions. This study is part of the Erasmus Mundus Trans Global Health programme.
Related publications
Rai, S. S., Irwanto, I., Peters, R. M., Syurina, E. V., Putri, A. I., Mikhakhanova, A. & Zweekhorst, M. B. (2020). Qualitative Exploration of Experiences and Consequences of Health-related Stigma among Indonesians with HIV, Leprosy, Schizophrenia and Diabetes. Kesmas: National Public Health Journal, 15(1), 7-16.
Rai, S. S. (2021). Exploring the Dimensions of Health-related Stigma: Insights from narratives of people with stigmatized health conditions in Indonesia. PhD Thesis